Watanabe on course for 3rd S’bikes plum

Two-time defending Superbikes champion Dashi Watanabe of Kawazaki dominated his rivals recently in the second leg of the 2015 Pirelli Superbikes Championship Series at  Clark International Speedway.

Watanabe bested kickoff leg winner and Ducati rider Raniel Resuello by 7.225 seconds to tie him for the overall lead as he pursues a third straight Superbikes plum.

During the opening leg, Watanabe overshot the track at the first turn, paving the way for Resuello’s successful start.

Watanabe’s second leg triumph showed how ease he is with his new machine, the 2015 Kawasaki zx10r.  He went full throttle throughout the 10-lap race and secured the lead as early as  the third  lap of the event sanctioned by the Superbikes Racing Association (SBRA)

Marvin Mangulabnan of BMW Racing claimed third while Anthony Roman of KTM Philippines Team and Rizaldy Canare wound up fourth and fifth, respectively.

TJ Alberto of Ducati, hardly showing the effects of an accident in the opening leg, emerged champion in both the Superbikes Intermediate and Novice classes and swept the Ducati Cup races.

Alberto, who checked in sixth overall, turned back Colin Butler and Ralph Kenneth Torres for the Superbikes Intermediate title.

He bagged the Superbikes Novice crown over Johnlery Enriquez and Masato Fernando.

Raymond Robertson copped his second straight victory in the Superbikes Master while Jay Carrion copped the Open crown.